Apologies if this has been asked before - I searched the forum and didn't find anything...
I went to a gun shop the other day wanting to see a PPS .40. The fellow there was doing his best to sell me a Glock -- they didn't have the PPS in stock and I guess he needed commission for the week.
One of my concerns with Glock as my CCW has always been the lack of safeties. (It's one of several reasons why I bought my Springfield XD40 Sub.) Anyway, the fellow said just to pull the trigger...that you could dry fire the Glock forever with no damage. This goes counter to everything I was ever taught about firearms. But then again, I just don't know much about Glocks.
Any input here ? Is the Glock different in that sense or was the guy feeding me a line ? I use snap caps for my .32, my .40, and my .45 (Colt, Springfield, Colt) because I was always taught you would damage the gun dry firing it.
It's OK to dry fire some rimfires as far as I know (like the Ruger Mk III) but it is best to ALWAYS make sure and err on the conservative side if you're not sure.
There is no problem dry firing the Glock (after it's properly cleared AND ALWAYS pointed in a safe direction when dry firing).
The Glock actually has a few safeties including the trigger safety and positive firing pin block so it's fully safe to carry with a round chambered when properly handled.
HOWEVER, if the trigger gets depressed for any reason (either via a snag or deliberately) it WILL go bang. It has a relatively light trigger with relatively short travel which can be an asset when shooting but is easier to set off than something like an LDA or DAK -- the gun MUST be properly handled and carried in a proper holster.
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The Glock has three passive safeties on it. The middle of the trigger is a safety. A small, pivoting lever type device. If you pull on just the sides of the trigger, it will not function. This came from a 1930's Saur design. This was put in so that if something "tugged" on the sides of the trigger, holster or something else, it will not fire. There is a firing pin safety. When the trigger is pulled, the trigger bar has an extension that pushes up a cylinder with a cut in it to allow the striker pin to go forward. If this is not up, the firing pin, striker, cannot hit the primer. Also, the gun is actually cocked when you pull the trigger. The trigger may be "set forward", but the actual cocking occurs when you pull the trigger. There is also a drop safety where the trigger bar pulls back on the striker and goes down due to a slot cut. Until the trigger is pulled, this cannot drop to release the striker/firing pin. It is hard to explain with no pictures. The gun is very safe, quick to get in action and you can dry fire it all day if you want. But, you have to work the slide to reset the trigger each time. Some people do sell a device that will reset your trigger each time for ease of dry firing. You will not hurt your gun dry firing it. If for some strange reason, you really, really want a manual safety, there are companies that will put one on a Glock. But, there is no need for that. Some here may question or disagree with that, but it is ok just the way it is. The trigger can be adjusted for lighter pulls, 3.5 lbs. Factory is 5.5 lbs, NY trigger is 8 lbs, and the NY+ is 11 lbs. All you do is change the connector or install a small piece of plastic for the really heavy trigger pulls. ALWAYS check the chamber several times before you dry fire. SAFETY FIRST!! TXplt has great advice.
Many interesting facts about the Glock. I had a helluva time trying to get it field stripped. My buddy showed me how to do it, but I finally figured out it had to be dry fired first. So how its like I knew how to do it all along! It was a Glock 19, and it was quite fun to shoot.
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The Glock has three passive safeties on it. The middle of the trigger is a safety. A small, pivoting lever type device. If you pull on just the sides of the trigger, it will not function. This came from a 1930's Saur design. This was put in so that if something "tugged" on the sides of the trigger, holster or something else, it will not fire. There is a firing pin safety. When the trigger is pulled, the trigger bar has an extension that pushes up a cylinder with a cut in it to allow the striker pin to go forward. If this is not up, the firing pin, striker, cannot hit the primer. Also, the gun is actually cocked when you pull the trigger. The trigger may be "set forward", but the actual cocking occurs when you pull the trigger. There is also a drop safety where the trigger bar pulls back on the striker and goes down due to a slot cut. Until the trigger is pulled, this cannot drop to release the striker/firing pin. It is hard to explain with no pictures. The gun is very safe, quick to get in action and you can dry fire it all day if you want. But, you have to work the slide to reset the trigger each time. Some people do sell a device that will reset your trigger each time for ease of dry firing. You will not hurt your gun dry firing it. If for some strange reason, you really, really want a manual safety, there are companies that will put one on a Glock. But, there is no need for that.
Wow. That's a lot of really great information. Thanks! (And thanks to TxPlt, too.)
My concern with the safeties were indeed if I caught a snag...I'd hate to actually fire a shot into myself.
When you say you won't hurt your gun dry firing is that for all center fire pistols or just Glocks ?
A police officer once told me if you carry do it with a weapon that has no safety. That split second it takes you to pop that safety could mean your life.
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My only handgun with a safety is my Makerov, and most argue that it is a de-cocker not a pure safety. A safety only gets in the way and is only for mental peice of mind, a false sence of security if you ask me. A safety on a longarm, or hunting rifle makes all the sence in the world but a safety on a handgun is just wrong. Safe and proper handgun protocal, the correct mindset, and paying attention trumps a small lever or button any day. Most modern handguns have built in internal safeties to prevent accidental discharge if dropped. I heard of a tragic case of a man in Texas who shot himseld in the head while trying to demonstrate to his girlfriend how the safety worked!!! It made the news this weekend. Safeties bad Glock Good.
I dryfire my guns all the time I think it is a safety thing not a harm your gun thing. How is a metal firing pin going to be dammaged by striking thin air in an empty chamber? I think most gun shops discurage dryfiring because they are usually standing in front of a customer pulling the trigger at a gun pointed at them. I might be very wrong on this one? But seriously how much dammage are you doing dryfiring a gun? Arn't you causing the same dammage to a gun when you pull the trigger on a gun with a round in the chamber?
A police officer once told me if you carry do it with a weapon that has no safety. That split second it takes you to pop that safety could mean your life.
Perhaps. My XD40, though, has no manual safety. Just holding it properly will allow it to fire. But I can pluck it from my holster and have it in proper firing position without risk.
I might be overthinking it, though. All of the pistols I'm thinking about acquiring have no manual safety and most are trigger safeties only.
I put it this way. If it was dangerous in any way, 95% of Law Enforcement units wouldn't issue them to officers who have never fired a firearm before. I will eventually buy one(limited funds). Don't know if I want a 9mm or .40cal.
Any modern revolver has no external safety. You won't find them. As for dry firing ANY gun, depends on the gun. On a recent thread, someone stated that it won't hurt a PA-63 to dry fire it. I dry fired my CZ70 and broke the firing pin. $20 bucks gone. You can dry fire a Smith and Wesson revolver(not a really old one) and it wont hurt it. Most firing pins have "shoulders" that hit something. The forward movement by the firing pin is stopped by something, all guns are different as to what. Whatever gun you get, do some research first. If you have the place to go and "rent" guns, do it first. Be sure of what you want before you place down your money. It is your money, you buy what you want. My opinion, you can't go wrong with a Glock, but if it doesn't feel right in your hands, get something else. Springfield XD are good from what I have read. But, I am a Glock man myself. So, go feel up a bunch of guns and decide. Glock is Austrian for Colt sucks.....Whatever you do, in regards to dry firing, BE SAFE! Check the magazine, chamber several times. you can't call a bullet back after it has been fired.
A police officer once told me if you carry do it with a weapon that has no safety. That split second it takes you to pop that safety could mean your life.
You should just make it part of your normal draw to flip the safety off as you draw. If you pull the weapon out for any reason while carrying it should be ready to go. I normally carry a DAO during the warmer times of the year, but that is because of the size and I haven't had the money to pick up a USP Compact. When I carry my USP Tac, I've already flipped the safety off as I've established my grip on the gun. I do it without thinking about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaybe
I dry fired my CZ70 and broke the firing pin. $20 bucks gone.
Might have the same issue as the CZ-52 with inferior firing pins from the factory.
OT: As long as there's a return spring on the firing pin, I couldn't think of a reason that drying firing a modern striker pistol could hurt it. If you're really worried, get snap caps. As far as safeties, keep your index along the frame of the weapon until you commit to pulling the trigger. Use a quality holster that covers the trigger guard and you should be fine.
A police officer once told me if you carry do it with a weapon that has no safety. That split second it takes you to pop that safety could mean your life.
Don't mean to be mean, but I would consider this to be bad advice. Bottom line is carry the gun you practice with and are completely familiar with--the act of flipping off a safety on a 1911 is intrinsic and takes no real additional time if you have trained with it. I'd submit someone well trained could get his 1911 or similar into action just as fast as someone with a revolver or DA auto. Maybe faster considering the excellent trigger on some 1911's and its inherent ergonomics.
ALSO, safety levers have on numerous occasions saved citizens and LEO's alike -- the gun gets snatched by a BG who (having never fired the gun before) can't figure out how to make it go bang in the limited time he has and the situation is resolved well.
I'm NOT saying a gun with a safety is better or not better than one without -- just to someone proficient and trained on the gun the safety disengagement makes no real difference in time to action.
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i carry a glock because there way cool!, plus being a southpaw i don't really have the option of a small thumb flick while i draw to remove the safety, it is all about practicing with what you got that makes you fast, not thinking one is faster.
Don't mean to be mean, but I would consider this to be bad advice. Bottom line is carry the gun you practice with and are completely familiar with--the act of flipping off a safety on a 1911 is intrinsic and takes no real additional time if you have trained with it. I'd submit someone well trained could get his 1911 or similar into action just as fast as someone with a revolver or DA auto. Maybe faster considering the excellent trigger on some 1911's and its inherent ergonomics.
ALSO, safety levers have on numerous occasions saved citizens and LEO's alike -- the gun gets snatched by a BG who (having never fired the gun before) can't figure out how to make it go bang in the limited time he has and the situation is resolved well.
I'm NOT saying a gun with a safety is better or not better than one without -- just to someone proficient and trained on the gun the safety disengagement makes no real difference in time to action.
+1 here. I agree. I was going to suggest the same 1911 example. You're grabbing it from your holster, its natural for your thumb to turn off the safety while drawing anyways. But if you are familiar with your gun, and are proficient with it, then it shouldn't take any extra time to turn off any safeties to have it ready to fire.
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i carry a glock because there way cool!, plus being a southpaw i don't really have the option of a small thumb flick while i draw to remove the safety, it is all about practicing with what you got that makes you fast, not thinking one is faster.
I suppose it would be quite different for a lefty too. A Glock wouldn't be a bad choice because the only external safety is on the trigger. But, there are ambi 1911s out there, so really a lefty could carry either one if they so chose
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